Starship robot struck by freight train
Occurred: March 2022
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A Starship delivery robot was struck by a freight train after becoming stranded at a railroad crossing in Oregon.
The incident occurred when the robot, deployed by Oregon State University, failed to navigate a railway crossing and was subsequently run over by an oncoming freight train. Two other Starship robots seemingly traversed the railway safely.
This incident highlighted the challenges faced by autonomous delivery robots, particularly in navigating complex environments like railroad crossings.
While the robot was designed to deliver food and packages, its inability to safely cross the tracks raises concerns about the reliability and safety of such technologies in real-world scenarios.
The incident underscored the need for improved safety protocols and infrastructure to accommodate autonomous vehicles and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
System 🤖
Operator: Oregon State University
Developer: Starship Technologies
Country: USA
Sector: Transport/logistics
Purpose: Deliver groceries
Technology: Robotics; Machine learning; Neural networks
Issue: Safety
Transparency: